17 Things Around The House That You’ve Probably Been Using Wrong Your Whole Life

The term “life hacks” has become pretty popular over the last few years, and there are some sites out there that are literally dedicated to just posting these kinds of time/money/effort-saving tips and nothing else. Sometimes these “hacks” end up not being worth it, but sometimes they can genuinely be pretty brilliant.

My favorite tips are the ones that take something I’ve been familiar with all my life and then show me something totally new or unexpected with it. For instance, how about this list of various common household items that the majority of us have probably never realized we were using incorrectly.

Here are few things around the house that you’ve probably been using wrong your whole life :

1. Glass ketchup bottles have a “sweet spot.” Instead of tapping the bottom, tap the “57” embossed on the glass to get ketchup out with ease.

Glass ketchup bottles

2. Juice boxes have handles.

Juice boxes

3. Use the tab on a soda can to hold your straw.

Soda

4. Use a keychain bottle opener to open cans and save your nails.

Keychain bottle opener

5. You can use yogurt/pudding cup foil to create a DIY spoon in a pinch.

yogurt/pudding cup foil

6. Chinese takeout containers fold out into plates.

Chinese plates

7. Some pot handles have a “built-in” spoon rest!

pot handles

8. That drawer under your oven as an actual purpose.

Drawer under your oven

9. That hook on the back of your shirt is meant to hang it up without wrinkling the shirt.

Hook on the back of your shirt

10. Your spaghetti spoon can be used to measure perfect portions of pasta.

spaghetti spoon

11. Those tabs on the side of your kitchen wrap boxes are there to keep the roll in place as you pull.

kitchen wrap boxes

12. With a little folding out, condiment cups can hold WAY more ketchup.

Condiment Cups

13. Tic Tac containers have a built-in dispenser… Unless you’re like me, and you eat like 15 of them at a time.

Tic Tac containers

14. Store natural peanut butter upside-down to prevent separation.

Natural Peanut

15. Pull triangles of Toblerone chocolate towards the bar to break them off more easily.

Toblerone chocolate

16. Bobby pins are actually meant to be used with the rugged side down for better grip.

Bobby pins

17. Use the right plunger for the job: Cup plungers (right) are most common, but they’re meant for sinks. To unclog a toilet, use the Flange plunger (left).